Archive | Hauraki

The Natural Heritage Fund has bought 5.6ha on the Miranda coast off the Firth of Thames to create a new scenic reserve to protect the area’s chenier plains – a series of ridges made up of sand, shell or gravel.

Conservation Minister Kate Wilkinson said the Miranda chenier plains were rated among the world’s finest examples of this coastal landform.

The site also contains wetlands with a healthy population of the threatened plant Maori musk and habitat for native species such as grey duck, South Island pied oystercatchers, grey-faced heron & pied stilt.

The fund bought the land for $250,000 and the Department of Conservation will manage the scenic reserve.

Ms Wilkinson said the rare chenier plain habitat was rapidly disappearing along this coastline: “The land is adjacent to the much larger Taramaire Wildlife Management Reserve, so will enhance the network of wetland habitat so valuable for internationally threatened wading shorebirds.”

The Miranda coastline is also recognised as internationally significant under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.

The fund bought the land from Kaiaua farmer Rob McCartie. As part of the deal, he’s agreed to enter into a covenant over a further 14.5ha which contains the remaining chenier plain. Mr McCartie also runs the Rangipo Museum from his property, which celebrates the history of the area.

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